Finding new ways to relieve pain without dangerous side effects
Official title: Identification of allosteric molecules for DOR-KOR heteromer-mediated peripheral analgesia
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-10914772 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to relieve pain without the harmful side effects of opioids, aiming to find safer treatments that work directly on the nerves that sense pain, so people can feel better without the risk of addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $508,286 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057787-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914772 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who experience nociceptive pain and are seeking alternative pain management options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience pain or have conditions unrelated to nociceptive pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new pain relief methods that avoid the dangerous side effects associated with traditional opioid medications. The team is investigating a specific receptor combination in pain-sensing neurons that, when activated, can provide effective pain relief. By identifying small molecules that can selectively activate these receptors, the research aims to create safer analgesic drugs that target pain at its source. This approach could lead to innovative treatments that help manage pain without the risk of addiction or respiratory issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of safer pain relief medications that minimize the risk of addiction and other severe side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting receptor combinations for pain relief, indicating that this approach could be a viable alternative to traditional analgesics.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clarke, William P — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Clarke, William P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immune and nerve signals behind acupuncture relief for sickle cell pain
This NIH grant explores how acupuncture helps reduce pain and opioid use for people with sickle cell disease.
-
Personalized pain prevention around surgery
This project tests ways to tailor pain-prevention treatments for people having surgery to reduce the chance of long-lasting post-surgical pain.
-
Pain sensitivity, alcohol analgesia, and heavy drinking in people with opioid use disorder
A short, patient-friendly look at how pain sensitivity and alcohol’s pain-relieving effects might influence heavy drinking in people with opioid use disorder.
-
Long-term activation of the body's own pain-relief system in the spinal cord and brainstem
A study at the University of Pittsburgh will test how the body's natural opioid system can stay active for a long time after pain or opioid exposure, with potential implications for better pain control.
-
Personalized perioperative pain prevention for high-risk patients
A research program at Stanford is exploring why some people have long-lasting pain after surgery and how to prevent it in patients who are most at risk.
-
Sickle Cell Disease Pain Analgesia and Integrative Network for Better Pain Care
A national network is being built to better understand and manage pain in adults with sickle cell disease using integrative, whole-health approaches.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.